Villa Emy, an Art Deco gem on the sea in Bisceglie

An Art Déco icon is brought back to life as a charming bed&breakfast, thanks to the project signed by Paolo Lettieri and Pierluigi Pindinelli, which enhances its historical memory and architectural identity.

Historic villa between memory and landscape

Immersed in a Mediterranean garden, among palm trees and tamarisks overlooking the sea of Bisceglie, Villa Emy stands as a landmark of the territory. Built in the 1930s by transforming an ancient agricultural structure, it has retained the Art Deco style in the window frames, the double staircase, and the iron details. Over the decades, the villa has undergone various transformations, from the additional floor in the 1960s to the swimming pool in the 1980s, to the reception and social uses that have modified its interior spaces.

A new recovery project

After years of partial abandonment, in 2023 the owners entrusted the architects of UPA Italia with the task of restoring value and function to the villa. The project involved a respectful recovery of the original structures, removing additions and giving new life to the tuff walls and vaults. The goal was to repurpose the spaces in a contemporary way, while keeping the architectural layout visible and creating a small bed & breakfast that would tell the story of the place.

Internal Spaces Between History and Contemporaneity

The layout has been redesigned to create six rooms with bathrooms, integrated with light and recognizable partitions, without altering the original spatiality. The new interiors have been conceived as a neutral box: warm gray slab floors, coordinated walls, and breathable plaster paneling. The furnishings and finishes introduce chromatic and material contrasts, with graphic and floral details that recall the Art Deco spirit in a contemporary key. It is in this dimension that the project fits into the tradition of the best architecture projects, capable of combining historical memory and new needs.

The garden and light as a stage set

Even the outdoor spaces have been reinterpreted: new paths, gravel pavements, and plantings of Mediterranean essences restore harmony to the garden. The pool, renovated while maintaining its original shape, includes a shallow water area and steps inspired by Art Deco. At night, a luminous design accompanies the paths, enhances the facade, and highlights the entrance staircase, transforming the villa into an architecture capable of interacting with the landscape and its own history.

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UPA Italia

Via Canonica 67 – 20154 Milano